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Current Environmental Health Reports Dec 2023Metals and metalloids are known for their nutritional as well as toxic effects in humans. In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, understanding the role of metals on... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Metals and metalloids are known for their nutritional as well as toxic effects in humans. In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, understanding the role of metals on COVID-19 infection is becoming important due to their role in infectious diseases. During the past 2 years, a significant number of studies have examined the impact of metals and metalloids on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed manuscripts on the association of metals and metalloids with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity published since the onset of the pandemic.
RECENT FINDINGS
We searched for epidemiological studies available through the PubMed database published from January 2020 to December 2022. Of 92 studies identified, 20 met our inclusion criteria. These articles investigated the association of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), chromium (Cr), and/or lead (Pb) levels on SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or COVID-19 severity. Of the ten metals and metalloids of interest that reported either positive, negative, or no associations, Zn yielded the highest number of articles (n = 13), followed by epidemiological studies on Se (n = 7) and Fe (n = 5). Elevated serum Zn and Se were associated with reduced COVID-19 severity and mortality. Similarly, higher levels of serum Fe were associated with lower levels of cellular damage and symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and with faster recovery from COVID-19. On the other hand, higher serum and urinary Cu and serum Mg levels were associated with higher COVID-19 severity and mortality. Along with the positive or negative effects, some studies reported no impact of metals on SARS-CoV-2 infection. This systematic review suggests that metals, particularly Zn, Fe, and Se, may help reduce the severity of COVID-19, while Cu and Mg may aggravate it. Our review suggests that future pandemic mitigation strategies may evaluate the role of Zn, Se, and Fe as potential therapeutic interventions.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Metals; Zinc; Cadmium; Selenium; Metalloids; Epidemiologic Studies; Metals, Heavy
PubMed: 37665544
DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00409-4 -
Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine Aug 2023Metallic nanoparticles from different natural sources exhibit superior therapeutic options as compared to the conventional methods. species have attracted special... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Metallic nanoparticles from different natural sources exhibit superior therapeutic options as compared to the conventional methods. species have attracted special attention of researchers worldwide due to the presence of bioactive molecules such as flavonoids, biflavonoids, triterpenes, steroids, saponins, tannins and other secondary metabolites that exhibit antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Environment friendly green synthesised silver nanoparticles from species provide viable, safe and efficient treatment against different fungal pathogens.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aims to summarise the literature pertaining to superior antifungal ability of green synthesised silver nanoparticles using plant extracts of spp. in comparison to both aqueous and ethanolic raw plant extracts by electronically collecting articles from databases.
METHODS
The recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis were taken into consideration while preparing this review. The titles and abstracts of the collected data were stored in Endnote20 based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search strategy included literature from established sources like PubMed, Google Scholar and Retrieval System Online using subject descriptors.
RESULTS
The search yielded 60 articles with unique hits. After removal of duplications, 46 articles were identified, 40 were assessed and only seven articles were chosen and included in this review based on our eligibility criteria.
CONCLUSION
The physicochemical and preliminary phytochemical investigations of suggest higher drug potency of nanoparticles synthesised from plant extract against different diseases as compared to aqueous and ethanolic plant extracts. The study holds great promise as the synthesis of nanoparticles involves low energy consumption, minimal technology and least toxic effects.
Topics: Humans; Metal Nanoparticles; Selaginellaceae; Silver; Anti-Infective Agents; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 37534437
DOI: 10.1017/erm.2023.21 -
Medicine Aug 2023This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of low-dose aspirin combined with calcium supplements for the prevention of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of low-dose aspirin combined with calcium supplements for the prevention of preeclampsia.
METHODS
China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception until December 2022. Randomized controlled trials investigating the preventive use of aspirin in combination with calcium supplementation for preeclampsia in high-risk pregnant women were included. The quality of the literature was evaluated, and a meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software to analyze the clinical efficacy of low-dose aspirin combined with calcium supplementation in preventing preeclampsia.
RESULTS
Seven randomized controlled trials were included in this meta-analysis, and compared with the control group, the experimental group had lower incidence rates of preeclampsia with gestational hypertension (odds ratios [OR]: 0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11-0.28), preeclampsia (OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.10-0.37), gestational hypertension (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.07-0.31), preterm birth (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.16-0.44), postpartum hemorrhage (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.08-0.27), and fetal growth restriction (OR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.08-0.33).
CONCLUSION
Compared with aspirin alone, low-dose aspirin combined with calcium supplementation was more effective in preventing preeclampsia, reduced the risk of preterm birth and postpartum hemorrhage, and promoted fetal growth. This intervention has clinical value and should be considered for high-risk pregnant women.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Calcium; Pre-Eclampsia; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Postpartum Hemorrhage; Premature Birth; Calcium, Dietary; Aspirin; Treatment Outcome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37653760
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034620 -
PloS One 2023Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in intensive care units (ICU) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Magnesium... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in intensive care units (ICU) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Magnesium prophylaxis has been shown to reduce incidence of AF in cardiac surgery patients, however, evidence outside this population is limited. The objective of this study is to summarize studies examining magnesium versus placebo in the prevention of NOAF outside the setting of cardiac surgery.
SOURCE
We performed a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) from inception until January 3rd, 2023. We included all interventional research studies that compared magnesium to placebo and excluded case reports and post cardiac surgery patients. We conducted meta-analysis using the inverse variance method with random effects modelling.
PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
Of the 1493 studies imported for screening, 87 full texts were assessed for eligibility and six citations, representing five randomized controlled trials (n = 4713), were included in the review, with four studies (n = 4654) included in the pooled analysis. Administration of magnesium did not significantly reduce the incidence of NOAF compared to placebo (OR 0.72, [95% CI 0.48 to 1.09]).
CONCLUSION
Use of magnesium did not reduce the incidence of NOAF, however these studies represent diverse groups and are hindered by significant bias. Further studies are necessary to determine if there is benefit to magnesium prophylaxis for NOAF in non-cardiac surgery patients.
Topics: Humans; Atrial Fibrillation; Magnesium; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Incidence; Morbidity
PubMed: 37883337
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292974 -
Maternal & Child Nutrition Apr 2024Donor human milk (DHM) from a milk bank is the recommended feeding method for preterm infants when the mother's own milk (MOM) is not available. Despite this... (Review)
Review
Donor human milk (DHM) from a milk bank is the recommended feeding method for preterm infants when the mother's own milk (MOM) is not available. Despite this recommendation, information on the possible contamination of donor human milk and its impact on infant health outcomes is poorly characterised. The aim of this systematic review is to assess contaminants present in DHM samples that preterm and critically ill infants consume. The data sources used include PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Web of Science. A search of the data sources targeting DHM and its potential contaminants yielded 426 publications. Two reviewers (S. T. and D. L.) conducted title/abstract screening through Covidence software, and predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria yielded 26 manuscripts. Contaminant types (bacterial, chemical, fungal, viral) and study details (e.g., type of bacteria identified, study setting) were extracted from each included study during full-text review. Primary contaminants in donor human milk included bacterial species and environmental pollutants. We found that bacterial contaminants were identified in 100% of the papers in which bacterial contamination was sought (16 papers) and 61.5% of the full data set (26 papers), with the most frequently identified genera being Staphylococcus (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus) and Bacillus (e.g., Bacillus cereus). Chemical pollutants were discovered in 100% of the papers in which chemical contamination was sought (eight papers) and 30.8% of the full data set (26 papers). The most frequently identified chemical pollutants included perfluoroalkyl substances (six papers), toxic metal (one paper) and caffeine (one paper). Viral and fungal contamination were identified in one paper each. Our results highlight the importance of establishing standardisation in assessing DHM contamination and future studies are needed to clarify the impact of DHM contaminants on health outcomes.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Milk, Human; Infant, Premature; Milk Banks; Environmental Pollutants
PubMed: 38268226
DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13627 -
Seminars in Nuclear Medicine Sep 2023Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) is a promising tracer in oncologic positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Numerous studies have... (Review)
Review
Fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) is a promising tracer in oncologic positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Numerous studies have demonstrated the superior sensitivity of FAPI PET/CT over fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in several types of cancer. However, the cancer specificity of FAPI uptake remains understudied, and several cases of false-positive FAPI PET/CT findings have been reported. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted for studies published prior to April 2022 reporting nonmalignant FAPI PET/CT findings. We included original peer-reviewed articles of studies in humans using FAPI tracers radiolabeled with Ga or F that were published in English. Papers without original data and studies with insufficient information were excluded. Nonmalignant findings were presented on a per-lesion basis and grouped according to the type of organ or tissue involved. The search identified a total of 1.178 papers, of which 108 studies were eligible. Eighty studies were case reports (74%), and the remaining 28 were cohort studies (26%). A total of 2.372 FAPI-avid nonmalignant findings were reported, with the most frequent being uptake in the arteries, e.g., related to plaques (n = 1178, 49%). FAPI uptake was also frequently related to degenerative and traumatic bone and joint lesions (n = 147, 6%) or arthritis (n = 92, 4%). For organs, diffuse or focal uptake was often seen in cases of inflammation, infection, fibrosis, and IgG4-related disease (n = 157, 7%). FAPI-avid inflammatory/reactive lymph nodes (n = 121, 5%) and tuberculosis lesions (n = 51, 2%) have been reported and could prove to be potential pitfalls in cancer staging. Periodontitis (n = 76, 3%), hemorrhoids (n = 47, 2%), and scarring/wound healing (n = 35, 2%) also presented as focal uptake on FAPI PET/CT. The present review provides an overview of the reported FAPI-avid nonmalignant PET/CT findings to date. A large number of benign clinical entities may show FAPI uptake and should be kept in mind when interpreting FAPI PET/CT findings in patients with cancer.
Topics: Humans; Biological Transport; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Gallium Radioisotopes; Inflammation; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
PubMed: 36813670
DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2023.02.001 -
Jornal de Pediatria 2023Meckel diverticulum (MD) is a common malformation of the digestive tract, often accompanied by serious complications. It is important to find safe and effective... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Meckel diverticulum (MD) is a common malformation of the digestive tract, often accompanied by serious complications. It is important to find safe and effective diagnostic methods for screening MD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a technetium-99m (Tc-99m) scan for pediatric bleeding MD.
METHODS
The authors conducted a systematic review of studies published in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science before 1 January 2023. Studies based on PICOS were included in this systematic review. The flow chart was made by PRISMA software. The quality of included studies was assessed by RevMan5 software (QUADAS-2: Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2). The sensitivity, specificity, and other measurements of accuracy were pooled using Stata/SE 12.0 software.
RESULTS
Sixteen studies with 1115 children were included in this systematic review. A randomized-effects model was used for the meta-analysis because of significant heterogeneity. The combined sensitivity and specificity were 0.80 [Confidence Interval (95% CI, 0.73-0.86) and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.86-0.98)], respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.85-0.90). Publication bias (Begg's test p = 0.053) was observed.
CONCLUSION
Tc-99m scan has high specificity, but moderate sensitivity, which is always influenced by some factors. Hence, the Tc-99m scan has some limitations in the diagnosis of pediatric bleeding MD.
Topics: Child; Humans; Technetium; Meckel Diverticulum; Radionuclide Imaging; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 37277097
DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2023.03.009 -
Journal of Orthodontic Science 2023A variety of metals and alloys are employed in the field of orthodontics, primary of which happen to be the construction of wires. Through this systematic review, we... (Review)
Review
A variety of metals and alloys are employed in the field of orthodontics, primary of which happen to be the construction of wires. Through this systematic review, we aimed to assess the various metallurgical characteristics of the said metals and alloys. Four hundred and eighty-two documents in total were found after a thorough search of the online journals, and 169 of the papers were initially chosen. Ultimately, 16 documents were selected that satisfied the necessary inclusion and exclusion criteria, primarily studies, literature reviews, and comparative analyses. NiTi alloy was found to be the most commonly used alloy in construction of orthodontic wires across all the studies that we had selected for our review. It also had better performance and consistency in terms of its usage as depicted by the meta-analysis performed, with stainless steel wires being a close second primarily due to its lesser cost compared to the former. Metallurgy and orthodontics are inextricably linked with one another. The various components of orthodontics such as wires, pliers, and other instruments utilize the metallurgical characteristics of metals and alloys that are specially prepared for the challenges of this field. CRD42022378444.
PubMed: 37881657
DOI: 10.4103/jos.jos_52_23 -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... Oct 2023Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) affecting mineral and bone metabolism and characterized by excessive parathyroid... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
CONTEXT
Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) affecting mineral and bone metabolism and characterized by excessive parathyroid hormone (PTH) production and parathyroid hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this analysis was to compare the efficacy and adverse effects of extended-release calcifediol (ERC) and paricalcitol (PCT) by assessing their effect on the biomarkers PTH, calcium, and phosphate in patients with non-dialysis CKD (ND-CKD).
METHODS
A systematic literature research was performed in PubMed to identify randomized control trials (RCTs). Quality assessment was done with the GRADE method. The effects of ERC vs PCT were compared using random effects in a frequentist setting.
RESULTS
Nine RCTs comprising 1426 patients were included in the analyses. The analyses were performed on 2 overlapping networks, due to nonreporting of outcomes in some of the included studies. No head-to-head trials were identified. No statistically significant differences in PTH reduction were found between PCT and ERC. Treatment with PCT showed statistically significant increases in calcium compared with ERC (0.2 mg/dL increase; 95% CI, -0.37 to -0.05 mg/dL). No differences in effects on phosphate were observed.
CONCLUSION
This network meta-analysis showed that ERC is comparable in lowering PTH levels vs PCT. ERC displayed avoidance of potentially clinically relevant increases in serum calcium, offering an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for the management of SHPT in patients with ND-CKD.
Topics: Humans; Calcifediol; Calcium; Ergocalciferols; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary; Network Meta-Analysis; Parathyroid Hormone; Phosphates; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37235771
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad289 -
BMC Oral Health Oct 2023Today dental implants represent an effective therapy in case of partial or total edentulism, with an excellent success rate. Despite the results obtained, there may be...
BACKGROUND
Today dental implants represent an effective therapy in case of partial or total edentulism, with an excellent success rate. Despite the results obtained, there may be biological or mechanical complications during the therapy, which lead to the loss of the implant. This systematic review aims to evaluate the current state of the art in the literature on techniques used for the removal of dental implants. Various aspects will be analyzed, such as the success of the technique, any complications, and the advantages and disadvantages of their use.
METHODS
Two reviewers conducted a literature analysis (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science) of the last 20 years (2003-2023). The main criterion analyzed was the success of the technique, while secondary outcomes such as complications and risks of the technique were also analyzed. 258 articles were identified in the various search databases. 42 eligible articles were subsequently identified after an article screening. Only 18 full texts were subsequently included in the review.
RESULTS
A total of 18 articles were selected and 1142 implants and 595 patients were included. The main techniques used were the Counter-Torque Ratchet Technique (CTRT), Piezoelectric bone surgery (PBS), trephine drills, carbide burs, Erbium, Chromium, Yttrium, Scandium, Gallium, Garnett (Er:Cr:YSGG) laser and carbon dioxide (CO) laser. Combined uses of techniques have been identified such as: PBS and trephine burs or carbide burs, trephine burs with the use of a 3d-printed guide, CTRT and trephine burs. The technique with the highest success rate, less morbidity for the patient, and less removal of bone appears to be the CTRT.
CONCLUSIONS
The use of conservative techniques, especially CTRT, in bone removal is useful to allow for immediate implant placement in the removal area. However, further studies with a high sample size are needed to be performed on all techniques, particularly new randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that allow for the analysis of the success of alternative techniques such as Laser and Piezosurgery, which appear to be very promising.
Topics: Humans; Dental Implants; Bone-Anchored Prosthesis; Dental Implantation, Endosseous; Yttrium; Lasers, Solid-State
PubMed: 37833674
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03438-5